The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-02
DOUGLAS AND LOGAN.
The Work They Performed in Illinois at the
Beginning of the Rebellion.

The Work They Performed in Illinois at the
Beginning of the Rebellion.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Jan. There is one feature in
the career of General Logan of which but little
notice was taken during his lifetime and which
has been scarcely noticed since his decease. al
, though during the few days which have elapsed
since the telegraph flashed the news of the death
around the world volumes have been written
and published in regard to his achievements in
the field and in the Senate
1t was given to two men to do work in ILL.,
nois after the firing on Sumter such as fell to
the lot of no two other men then in public life
One Of these men-Stepben A. Douelas-was a
mature, masterful and brany statesman, thor
oughly armed and equipped for every contest in
which he took part, whether on the public
rostrum or in the Senate chamber. the latter the
scene of many brilliant victories won by him in
hand-to-hand and foot foot conflicts with the
ablest men then in public life. The other was
John "A. Logan. then comparatively young
man, but who had already given many evidences
that ne was to play no secondary part in life
In the spring of 1861 the situation in Illinois
was somewhat peculiar The southern half
the more populons part of the State-had been
originally settled by enerants from MARYLAND
Virginia. North Carolina Tennessee and Ken
lucky. These emigrants were pro slavery Demo
Gratis to the backbone. and all their prejudicss
led them TO look with kindly eye upon the eff
forts of the slave oligarchy to overthrow the
Union and establish republic the corner stone
OF which, paradoxical as it may SEEM was hu-
man slavery. If any popular ardent young
man, like Logan, had at this crisis spr ung to the
front IN favor of secession, there is not doubt
but that he could have led thousands Of young
pro slavery Democrats into the rebel camp, and
the relnforcements thus secured might have pre-
vented the fall of Donelson and Vicksburp. and
might have turned the tide of war in the West
entirely in favor of the Confederacy
But John A: Logan was in 1861 the same So
he was always through life-an honest decided
and patriotic mainland he did not hesitate for
n moment. BY his thrilling public appeals to
the young Democrats of southern Illinois he
turned tens OF thousands of men in that section
IN favor OF the Union cause, and gave such
patriotic tone to pubic sentiment that Illinois
never wavered In her devotion to the whole
country's cause, nor in her firm support of their
own great fellow citizen then st the head of the
national government.
Nor was General Logan content with using his
voice. He offered to go into the tented field and
give his life for tho cause he upheld Ohio
might produce her Valandgbams and other
traitors who would have gladly cast the flag of
the Union under the heels of armed traitors; In
diana might be honey combed with lodges of the
knights OF the Golden Circle. plotting midnight
treason and murder in behalf of bloody and
unhailowed rebellion, but none of it found
pace within the borders of Illinois And for
that great ard bene6cent result the Nation is
indebted to the patriotic efforts of Stephen A.
Douglas and John A. Logan The former fell
early III the conflict and went to his tomb amid
the unutterable agony of a conflict which shook
the whole earth. The latter lived to make his
name immortal.